Roy Keane has launched a stinging attack on Jonathan Walters and accused the media of ‘nasty, personal’ attacks on former Ireland manager Martin O’Neill.
Speaking at a live Off the Ball event in Dublin last night, the 48-year-old confirmed that he wants a return to management in the near future but revealed that the actions of Walters, along with Harry Arter and Stephen Ward left a sour taste.
Referencing the WhatsApp voice message leaked by a friend of Ward detailing the falling out between Keane, Walters and Arter, Keane labelled the social networking platform ‘RatsApp’.
“I did feel some of the medical staff were pandering to some of the players. When you are speaking to players who aren’t injured, who didn’t want to train, there’s a new trend,” Keane said.
“They said, ‘The medical staff said I’m going to do something back in the gym or back in the pool’. Would you not train? Then you have the usual stuff, people go running to the media. Things were exaggerated. A pack of lies.
“The treatment by a lot of sections of the Irish media, it was personal, it was nasty. Martin is a good guy and there’s not many good guys in football.”
Of Walters he added: “Imagine if Jon won a trophy? He talks a good game. He goes on the TV, on about how he was harshly treated by me.
“Not kicking a ball for Burnley for two or three years, on TV, crying about his family situation. You know, how about lying low for a while, taking it easy. Have a look at his medals? Wouldn’t take long.”
And on his future job prospects as a manager, Keane is adamant he still has plenty to offer.
He added: “I definitely want another crack at it. I don’t think Real Madrid will be calling me. Unless the right opportunity comes up, I’ll back away from it but I’d like to have another crack at it and see where it takes me. If I go back to a club, it’s got to be as manager, simply as that.”
Meanwhile, Gary Neville insists Keane is not a beaten docket as a boss.
He said: “Roy’s coming into his prime having gone through that learning of the first 10 years in coaching and management which is, to be fair, difficult for anybody.”
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